Posted on: 20/01/2010 

The owner of the Subway franchise in downtown Frederick is receiving positive feedback from the community.

"The customers like it and we're proud to offer them an alternative. There are very few healthy food choices in downtown," owner Shared Doshi said.

Open since December, the Market Street Subway employs seven people. It is the second franchise for Doshi, who also owns the West Seventh Street Subway.

The cafe-style design of the downtown franchise is different, Doshi said. Breakfast and coffee are served.

The franchise also delivers and caters, said Doshi, a 15-year Frederick resident and vice president of the Indian American Association.  Announcement of a Subway in downtown Frederick generated concern the national chain was not an appropriate fit for the city's historic district.

But for customer Ronald Cornwell, who was buying a sandwich Tuesday, the business is fine.

"It's good, reasonable and fast," Cornwell said. "I like it."

Doshi thinks his business is a good fit for downtown.

"We offer a service and other choices for customers. Everybody has their own opinion," he said.

Subway's arrival increases to four the number of national franchise outlets doing business in the historic district. It joins Starbucks, Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream.

"We're always happy when new tenants come into downtown Frederick ," said Richard Griffin, the city's economic development director. "It shows downtown is still a vibrant place for business to be located."

The Frederick Office of Economic Development is monitoring the number and locations of national chains in downtown.

"There's a retail task force that looks at long-term retail strategy for downtown," Griffin said.

His office surveyed downtown merchants and residents last year to gauge acceptance of such businesses. The survey found that if a choice needed to be made, local franchisees would be more welcome than corporate-owned national chains.

As of April, the Progress Report for Frederick County counted more than 600 businesses in downtown Frederick . Of that number, 200 are retail businesses, including more than 40 restaurants, sandwich shops and coffee shops. Of those, 98 percent are locally owned.

Subway's grand opening is planned for late February, Doshi said.